I love mixing and mastering!

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I'm very proud of an album I produced called 'Grown' with an emcee from California called J Walker. It is a personal album for him - plus we're both the same age and have similar backgrounds and interests. I produced the whole album, but we worked together on ensuring it sounds and feels exactly how we wanted it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on my next instrumental album, and also a volume 2 of my 'Featuring' project with my beats and various emcees.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Not yet.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I'm a digital user, but that's due to the era which I began to produce and mix - I would love to be an analogue user, but I don't have access to any of that gear - Maybe one day in the future if this becomes a lucrative full time job, ha ha. Also, if the finished product sounds great, the listener won't question how...

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: That I'll try my very best to ensure their music sounds how they envision it to sound.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The connection between myself and the artists, the process of moving the music toward a great end product.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: How quickly can you do this... It roughly takes a couple to a few weeks, but that accounts for any revisions and unexpected turns.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That you need a huge studio and a million plug ins... You need what you need and a good ear.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do you want it to feel like and sound like. Who influences your music and sound.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Let's have a conversation and understand what is required. I love to listen and appreciate the artist's vision and try to aim toward that first and foremost. I'm open to all feedback and improvements, as it's the artists vision, not mine.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My iMac, my KRKs, my AKAI Mini 2 and Audio Technica mic. And Logic on the iMac.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I started about 12 years ago making beats, and this has evolved into producing tracks and album with artists, then the discovery about 8 years ago of being able to mix and master myself.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Influenced by the classic and current Hip Hop sound - Solid, warm, balanced and a focus on the drums and emcee.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Any of the big Hip Hop producers and artists!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Mix quietly... It was recommended to me, and I swear by starting quiet and bringing all the elements slowly un into the mix - This gives head room and space to allow parts to really stand out or blend in.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Mainly Hip Hop, with some RnB, soul and similar.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Communication with the client is high on my list of importance. I do have a good ear for how the 'ingredients' sound together too; maintaining the balance of every stem and it's place in the sound of a track.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I'm passionate about the dynamics and feel of a track. I want to ensure the instrumental sounds full and balanced, plus ensure every element has it's space to breathe, plus the vocals need to be solid and cut through. The dynamic of a track is part of it's engagement and appeal.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I have my templates and processes in Logic, but I will first load all the files and stems into Logic, then mix 'dry' to a level which sounds good. I will then gently add my plug ins) EQ, compressors, limiters, etc) to ease the track toward sounding full, balanced and solid. I listen through my monitors, my Audio Technica headphones, and if needed, the classic 'Car Test' to ensure that all frequencies and hi-lo ends are balanced across all potential listening mediums.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have my trusty iMac, with Rocket KRK monitors, an AKAI MPK Mini 2, plus software - Logic Pro X, Waves plug in library and iZotope Ozone 9 for mastering.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Specifically, Hip Hop producers who are creative and forge their own sound - J Dilla, 9th Wonder, Apollo Brown, Diamond D, Kev Brown, Nicolay, etc.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: The mixing of a track after it's creation/recording - My clients will send me the individual stems (including any specific instructions), and I will put everything together, much like the ingredients in a tasty cake; this involves volume balancing, arrangement, panning, EQ, compression, etc.